Learn about the side effects of Concerta (methylphenidate), from common to rare, for consumers and healthcare professionals. Why do I feel very sleepy and tired after taking Concerta 18? taking into consideration that I am at the beginning and that I am in the first week of using it? 😢 Robyn Ashley and 2 others 3 17 When I have too high a dose the concerta makes me sleepy and very difficult to get going. Did you build up to 36mg? There is an 18mg dose that you may need to try. Also I cannot take any generic except Patriot brand for concerta. You can read about the issues with generics if you google “Concerta authorized generic” information. Methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant, is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy by increasing brain activity but can cause addiction and side effects. I had this exact side effect on a different ADHD med and it ended up being the reason for me to switch meds. I felt super sleepy on Adderall, but Concerta doesn't make me sleepy at all. It sounds like you have tried some other meds already. Hello all! I have a question for those of you on Concerta: does it make you sleepy? I spoke with my doctor about this at my last appointment, telling him that one side effect I noticed was that I start getting sleepy about 2-3 hours after taking it. He said that it shouldn’t be doing that, but decided to up my dose since I get a couple hours of benefit from it. So I went from 27mg to 36mg. Concerta is a prescription drug used to treat ADHD. Learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects it can cause and how to manage them. Learn about potential side effects for kids and adults taking Concerta (methylphenidate ER) for ADHD and how to mitigate risk. Find out why you might be so tired on Concerta. Learn about stimulant crashes, insomnia, dosage issues, and other common causes of fatigue while on medication. Concerta is a stimulant medication that helps treat the symptoms of ADHD. As the drug leaves the body, a person may experience fatigue or depression. People call this the ‘Concerta crash.